"Sure you don't need any help?" Steven's concern softened his voice as Maya practically pinned him to the couch, insisting she had everything under control.
"No. How many times do I have to say it?" Maya's frustration tinged her voice, despite the AC humming in the background, beads of sweat glistening on her forehead. Steven watched her, worry creasing his brow.
The sudden ring of the doorbell shattered their standoff. "Maybe that's her. Let me check," Steven suggested cautiously, but Maya's sharp command halted him in his tracks.
"You stay right there," she ordered firmly, striding towards the door. As she swung it open, her heart sank at the sight of Liam and Levi standing there, confusion etched on their faces. Liam shook his head subtly, exchanging a glance with Levi.
"Did we get the wrong place?" Liam asked tentatively, eyeing Maya's casual attire with surprise. Levi's gaze softened as he took in her tousled hair and comfortable t-shirt.
"Larson, is this your new place?" Liam's question hung in the air, Maya momentarily frozen until Steven's voice broke the awkward silence.
"What's taking so long?" Steven peered over Maya's shoulder, eyes widening at their unexpected guests. Levi's smile faltered, replaced by a guarded expression, while Liam turned to Steven, seeking clarification.
"Steven? Larson? Living together now?" Liam's question was hesitant, Steven pausing before offering an explanation.
"It's complicated. Maya, get inside. Come on in, guys," Steven invited, trying to ease the tension. Levi remained reserved as they entered, Liam casting a cautious glance around.
"We're not interrupting, are we?" Levi tried to lighten the mood, but his uneasiness was visible.
"Come inside first. Let's talk," Steven urged, closing the door behind them.
. . .
Levi and Liam were sitting on the couch, the awkwardness palpable. They could barely hear the conversation happening in the kitchen. Levi finally broke the silence in the living room, "Did you know they were living together?" Levi asked, raising an eyebrow at Liam.
"No clue. This is news to me," Liam replied, shaking his head.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Maya was bustling around, trying to finish cooking while also dealing with her embarrassment. "Why didn't you tell me they'd be here? How embarrassing!" Maya whispered angrily.
"How would I know? They didn't tell me," Steven defended himself.
"This is so embarrassing," Maya groaned, "Can you pass me the salt?" she asked Steven, who was leaning against the counter, watching her with a bemused expression.
"Here you go," he said, handing her the salt shaker. "Relax, Maya. They're just our friends."
"I know, I know. It's just... unexpected," she sighed, adding a pinch of salt to the dish she was preparing.
Steven chuckled and walked over to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, it's going to be fine. Don't worry about it now. Let me handle it."
. . .
"That's the story then? I didn't know you guys were friends," Liam said after hearing Steven's explanation. Levi sat silently, arms folded, not reacting at all.
"Why? Didn't Levi tell you? He knew it," Steven replied.
"Was that even necessary? You could've told him too. But you didn't because it really doesn't matter," Levi retorted.
"Ouch, I'm hurt," Liam acted dramatically. Steven just nodded.
"By the way, today we met…" Levi glared at Liam, clearly a sign to stop talking, knowing what he was about to reveal.
"What is it?" Steven asked.
"Nothing that much. A client, he will probably be a good match with us," Liam said, diverting the conversation.
"Good to hear," Steven nodded.
"Hey Steven, when do you think you can come to the office?" Levi asked.
"After tomorrow, since it's the weekend tomorrow."
They nodded. "That's awkward now." Levi muttered under his breath, "Ms. Larson must be awkward with this situation."
"She is, I guess. Don't worry, she'll be okay," Steven reassured.
Maya came in with some dishes and placed them on the table in front of them.
"Ms. Larson, you really didn't have to…" Levi started.
"It's okay. Actually, my sister is coming too, so I had to prepare something," Maya explained.
"Then we must have interrupted. Ah, what bad timing," Liam sighed.
"No, please don't say that. She'll be happy to meet you. Actually, she looks up to VISHO a lot. She usually never misses anything about VISHO," Maya said.
"Wow, really? I'm glad to know that. I'm kinda pumped up now," Levi smiled.
The doorbell rang, and Maya ran to answer it. She pulled her sister into an embrace, not noticing Shonn until he greeted her.
"Oh Shonn, you came? I'm so glad. Come in."
Shonn smiled at her while Sara gave him a knowing look. As they walked into the living room, everyone froze except for the two sisters. Sara, actually excited to see Liam and Levi there, was thrilled as she usually only saw them on TV and didn't recognize Levi's face when she visited their house since he was wearing a cap.
"Oh Levi Thompson, Liam Todd!!! Hello, I'm Sara Larson," she greeted them enthusiastically. When Levi and Liam were about to greet her back, Shonn interjected, "What are you all doing here?"
"Huh?" Maya asked, confused.
"I have the same question, Shonn, why are you here?" Steven asked. "Seems like you're dating Sara, aren't you?"
"Yes, I am. Now answer my question. Why are you all here?" Shonn repeated.
"Shonn, what are you doing? They are my sister's boss!" Sara said, shocked.
"Yes, I know. And they are practically my brothers," Shonn's words made everyone flinch. He instantly regretted it and tried to clarify, "Ah, I mean Levi is my brother… and two of them are his friends."
Levi started laughing, seeing his brother all shy. Maya and Sara looked at Levi, confused, while the other two guys seemed unbothered and smiled along with their friend.
"Mr. Thompson, why are you laughing?" Maya asked.
"Nothing, actually this is the first time he called me brother in front of everyone," Levi laughed again. Maya and Sara kind of understood the situation, thinking of their family names but still shocked.
"I seriously cannot believe you're dating Larson's sister. Sara, you better have the patience to stay with him. He is mature but sometimes he just doesn't understand a thing. By the way, nice to meet you again. You might not remember seeing me, but I do."
Sara smiled at him while her boyfriend furrowed his brows and yelled at his brother, "I'm not a kid, you don't have to tell her how to handle me or not."
Everyone in the room laughed. "Shonn is grown up, I see. He used to talk barely," Liam said, and Steven nodded. Everyone chatted and laughed along for a while. Levi excused himself and went to the balcony. Somehow, his smile faded away as he was alone. He was happy for his brother but felt a sting thinking that Sara was Maya's sister. He didn't want to bring his personal feelings into his brother's relationship. He calmed himself, looking at the sky. As he tried to forget about this, the thought of Steven and Maya living together crept back into his mind.
Urgh! You cannot be this pathetic, Levi! You finally started living as a family with Shonn. You don't have to care about anything now. You have Shonn.
Levi sighed. As he was lost in his thoughts, his hands on his face, elbows resting on the balustrade, Maya came by.
"Oh, Mr. Thompson!"
"Where did… oh, there's another door to the balcony from your room too?" Levi asked.
"Yes, you never saw it? I thought you came here a few times."
"Yes, I did but never really came to the balcony," Levi replied.
They were silent for a few moments. Maya looked at him; he seemed sad and bothered to her. "Is something bothering you?" Maya asked. Levi flinched a little and looked at her, smiling, "Nothing really," he responded.
"You're not good at lying, Mr. Thompson."
"What do you mean?" Levi laughed.
"You heard me. I'm not going to ask what it is. But cheer up." Maya's smile made his heart ache even more. Shonn spotted them and stood there in the dark, listening quietly.
"By the way, Mr. Thompson, I'll serve dinner now. You may come."
As Maya walked towards the door, Levi said, "I like a girl."
"Huh?" Maya looked back. Shonn already realized Maya was the one his brother liked.
"I like her a lot. I didn't even tell her how I feel. But I feel like I'm rejected already. I look pathetic, don't I?" Levi scoffed a little, laughing in pain. Shonn felt his brother's pain.
"No, you don't look pathetic at all. It's love that's pathetic."
Levi glanced at her and nodded.
"And I guess the girl must be pretty," Maya spoke again.
"She is. She is the prettiest I've ever seen," Levi retorted, taking a glance at her.
"Why don't you just tell her?"
"I don't know. Maybe I don't deserve her."
"Mr. Thompson, you're one of the nicest people I've ever seen. If you say that you don't deserve her, then you're wrong. I will just say, she doesn't deserve you."
Levi laughed. Maya flinched at his sudden laughter.
"Why are you laughing?"
"You're talking like Shonn," Levi retorted.
"He's a good guy. I'm glad Sara met him."
"I'm glad too."
Shonn left at this point as they started talking about him.
. . .
As the last of their friends left, Steven and Maya stood in the doorway, waving goodbye. They closed the door and leaned against it, looking at each other with a mixture of relief and happiness.
"Well, that was... eventful," Maya said with a laugh.
"Yeah, but it turned out pretty great," Steven replied, patting her shoulder.
Maya nodded, "Yeah, it did."
"Let's clean up and get some rest," Steven suggested, walking towards the kitchen.
"Good idea," Maya agreed, following him with a smile.
. . .
Maya felt a bit tired but couldn't sleep since she had slept all day. She came downstairs to watch TV. Steven was there, watching Netflix.
"Can't sleep?" Maya asked.
"No, I'll just play a game now. You can watch anything you want," Steven said, standing up and starting to walk upstairs.
"Steven?" Maya called him.
"Hm?"
"Sometimes I don't know what you're thinking."
"What do you mean?" Steven furrowed his brows.
"Do you hate me?"
Hate, the word that didn't go with Maya in Steven's world. He felt like his world shivered as she asked him the question he could least expect. He remembered all those times he waited for her to come back. He blamed himself for making her feel like he hated her. He sighed deeply and looked Maya in the eyes.
"Look at me, Maya. Do you think I would live with you if I hated you?" he asked.
"Then why do you act all normal and then start avoiding me all of a sudden? I don't know what you're thinking. It's just not fair," she spoke quietly.
"I'm sorry if I made you feel that way," he said, coming towards her and holding her shoulders. She looked up at him.
"Maya, don't ever say that. I could never hate you," Steven's voice cracked, eyes suddenly bloodshot with tears forming up, betraying the depth of his feelings. "You have no idea how much you mean to me. Every time I see you, it's like my world both crumbles and comes alive all at once. My heart races, my thoughts scatter, and I can barely breathe." He took a shaky breath, his eyes searching hers, raw and vulnerable. "I'm losing my mind over you, Maya. Trying to keep my feelings bottled up, to pretend like I'm not completely and utterly in love with you, has been tearing me apart. You're everything to me, and not being able to tell you has been torture." His jaw tightened, the confession pouring out in a flood of long-suppressed emotion. The pause between his word felt like an hour to Maya. Maya let herself free from his hold and stepped back.
"I'm sorry, Steven," she said, looking down.
"I know. I know, Maya. You're not ready yet. I'll wait for you. I said it already. I have loved you for more than six years, I waited for you for two years. So it's nothing to me anymore... waiting for you." Maya just listened to him, speaking as softly as anyone ever could. She could feel his sincerity, but she couldn't respond to him.
"Goodnight, Maya," Steven said, turning back.
"Steven, can you give me some time? I'll give you an answer, I promise. I don't want to make you wait any longer."
Steven averted his face and smiled, then went upstairs to his room.
What the hell just happened!
Maya, being Maya, threw herself on the couch, squeezing the cushion into her face.